Quebec has released data on absenteeism due to COVID-19 in schools. According to these figures, 2.3% of pupils and 1% of teachers are isolated due to a positive test or contact with a case.
Posted at 3:43 p.m.
As of last Friday, there were therefore 31,000 absent students and 1,400 teachers. For all school staff, excluding teachers, this figure rises to 1,596.
“To date, we are doing better than Ontario,” Education Minister Jean-François Roberge said on Twitter.
In Quebec, three schools are closed or partially closed. Nearly 700 teachers must give their lessons remotely and 91 groups of students are homeschooling. Classes switch to remote learning when at least 60% of students are in isolation due to COVID-19.
In Ontario, where 11 schools were closed on Tuesday, parents are notified if the absenteeism rate reaches 30% in a school. The establishment can then close, or we tighten sanitary measures. More than 300 schools in this province reported an absenteeism rate of more than 30% earlier this week.
Only one class is experiencing a break in service, according to data from Quebec. What is a break in service? In a press briefing on Monday, the Minister of Education gave his definition.
“Break of service, that would mean that we have to close a class, we send children home and they do not have access to classes,” said Jean-François Roberge.